Show THE TREMBLING TREE Once upon a time two tiny plants grew close together in the field Tho The sun and rains warmed and watered both and they both began to shoot up into tall f fine ne looking plants Both W were re green and strong and wanted to tobe tobe tobe be something in the world One night when the North Wind was tired of roaring among the icebergs it came down past the two tiny trees It was a long journey BO so he lay down to rest for a while before continuing con tinning his trip The trees were talking and the North Wind listened to every word they saidI saidI saidI said I would like to grow to be a tree which would be some good in the world said one I would like to have men use me for their work That is a poor ambition said the theother theother theother other tree who was full of tiny leaves tinted on the under side with silver I would like Ulce to W be beautiful and brave See now my silvery leaves Yours are stumpy fellows that no one could ever call pretty at all That is true truer replied the first but some day I may be tough and strong I will do the best I can in the world Oh pshaw laughed the other tree I I am the prettiest tree in the land and I bow my he head d to no one There is nothing before which I will lower myself and I mean to be queen be-queen queen of the forests I think you are not wise replied i the first speaker We are both young now and let us act with Judgment so sowe sowe sowe we may grow strong and be of use in inthe inthe inthe the world Stuff and nonsense laughed the tree with the silvery leaves I am am beautiful that beautiful that is enough I am brave too To nothing will I bow my head Do not be so sure yet of your strength pleaded the other You may not be able to carry out your The North Wind heard the talk and his sides shook with laughter How funny it was for him to hear such I bragging from a small plant which was not yet firmly rooted whose trunk was yet tender and who had yet experienced experienced experienced ex ex- nothing in life He had roamed in the Arctic in the blizzards bUzzards and swept around the oceans in a gale that crushed all before it He knew his power which blew the ships like chips of wood before his Ms icy breath I think I will show that silly little tree a thing or two he roared to him self That first little tree is a sensible sensible ble one and will grow into a sturdy oak But I must teach that other a a. aSo abit bit bit bitSo So he drew in his breath and began to blow At first softly then stronger and stronger It grew cold the snow began to fall the air grew icy and the little oak shivered I will stay still and fold in my leaves to protect them it said and andas as it felt the blast roar past it bent and swayed so its branches would not be harmed But the other tree determined to be too great to be harmed by the North Wind Let the old fellow blow it said I am not afraid and will not bend to his blast The North Wind heard this Oh ho he roared I will show you a a. athing athing thing or two With a sound as of a a. thousand cataracts it burst by The Tho oak bowed before it But the other held its head up high Then the blast grew more furious furious the the roots of the proud tree began to give way It was beginning to fall Its silvery leaves shook with fear Then at last in terror terror ter ter- it bent slowly slowly slowly to the blowing of ot the North Wind Ha ha laughed the North Wind as he sailed away My sensible little oak will help build the ships and the houses of the world but for the coming coming com corn ing ages this silvery tree tree- tree shall be called the aspen and its le leaves ves shall tremble at every breeze Copyright 1916 by McClure Newspaper per Syndicate New York City |